Church

The National Monuments Service's description

National Monument No. 54. Templenagriffin (Teampall na nGrífín, church of the Grífín - surname Griffin) (in ruins), NW quadrant of graveyard (KE020-046011-). Romanesque Church (KE020-046007-) 7m to E, Ardfert Cathedral (KE020-046002-) 36m to SE. Templenagriffin church described in the Urban Survey of Kerry as follows; 'Small single-aisled fifteenth century church, measuring 14.5 by 7m internally. The masonry is roughly coursed limestone with small amounts of red and green sandstone inclusions. The corners have dressed limestone quoins and the east and west walls are battered externally. The walls stand to full height of about 4m for north and south walls and 8-9m for the gables. A rectangular bell-cote rises above the west gable. The east wall has a tall splayed cusped twin-light window. The limestone jambs are chamfered and a segmental rear arch is also chamfered. The north wall has a small single light window at the east end. The arch and most of the jambs of the window are gone but the dressed limestone segmental rear arch survives. One stone of the internal east jamb has interlaced wyverns biting each others tails above a plaited pattern. The south wall has a piscina with circular basin at east end. The pointed arch over the piscina is limestone but the jambs are of chamfered red sandstone. There are two windows in the wall but the eastern one has lost its arch and most of its jambs. The west window is a single-light pointed opening with chamfered jambs of mixed limestone and sandstone and a flat lintelled rear arch. In between the windows is a round headed splayed doorway with rounded rear arch. The chamfered jambs of the doorway are of red sandstone but the arch is of limestone as are the internal dressed jambs of the rear arch. The west wall is featureless' (Bradley et al. 1987, 35-6). The Griffin family owned a large stretch of territory from Ballyheigue to Ardfert at this time and Smith (1756) says of the carving, 'On it are carved a griffin and a dragon conjoined which some of the family of Fitzmaurice carried formerly as supporters to their arms.'

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 6 May 2022

References

Barrington, T.J. 1976 (new edition 1999) Discovering Kerry. Cork. The Collins Press.

Smith, C. 1756 (Reprint 1969) The ancient and present state of the county of Kerry. Cork. The Mercier Press.

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H.A. 1987 Urban archaeological survey - county Kerry. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Toal, C. 1995 North Kerry Archaeological Survey. Dingle. Brandon in association with FAS Training and Employment Authority.

Hill, A. 1870 Ardfert Cathedral, Kerry. Cork.

Hickson, M.A. 1888 Notes on Kerry topography, ancient and modern. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 18, 442-8.